The Compasses

Q. According to an ancient custom, the compasses, as a masonic emblem, whether reposing on the altar or worn as an officer's jewel, should be set at an angle of 60°. What is the reason of this?

A. The reason is principally geometrical. The sacred import of the equilateral triangle has already been explained. Now, as the sum of all the angles of any triangle is equal to two right angles, or 180°, it follows that each of the equal angles of any equilateral triangle is equal to one third of two right angles (180°/3 = 60°), which is 60°.